Lady Roadrunners fall shy of NJCAA World Series title

Jeff Mitchell

Wednesday

May 28, 2008 at 12:01 AMMay 28, 2008 at 7:01 AM

After a strong first-round performance against Catonsville (Md.), the Delaware Tech Lady Roadrunners struggled in the second and third rounds of the NJCAA Division II World Series double-elimination tournament last week.

Just over a week ago, Delaware Tech’s Lady Roadrunners softball participated in an exclusive event.

Only 12 of the nation’s NJCAA Division II teams, on May 15, took part in the World Series, a double elimination tournament to decide a champion.

While Delaware Tech did not bring home the trophy, manager Bob Perry was happy his team qualified for the Series.

“It’s hard to say you’re happy, because we lost,” he explained. “But, we are proud of being one of the few teams that got there.”

Things went well for the Roadrunners early on, as they opened the Series with a 5-1 victory over Catonsville (Md.), thanks, in part to the pitching of Erin Tingle.

Tingle, the club’s ace throughout the season, was impressive in the circle nearly the entire contest, her manager said.

“Erin Tingle pitched a gem,” Perry said. “She only gave up four hits, which was very [impressive].”

Several other players stepped up their games at the Series as well, including Amy Donovan and Chelsea Walls, each of whom had home runs, and, of course, team-leader Bitty Hood.

“Bitty always steps up,” Perry said of his sophomore captain. “Chelsea had a two-run home run, and Amy had a solo homer in the first game that helped us out a lot.”

Unfortunately for the club, a bad draw that pitted it against the eventual second and third place finishers ensued after the victory over Catonsville.

Second up on the day for the Roadrunners was Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Miss.), which shut out Delaware Tech 6-0, and later in the day the team dropped its final battle to Heartland Community College (Ill.)

“Those two teams ended up second and third,” Perry explained. “You have to get a little lucky with the draw to win this thing, and ours certainly didn’t do us any favors.”

Despite the fact that Perry was disappointed by not winning gold, he did explain that his young club would benefit from having made it so deep in the playoffs.

And, with so many returnees, he hopes the girls take it a step farther when the next season reaches its conclusion.

“Hopefully we’ll be back in the World Series,” Perry said of his aspirations for next year’s club. “We’re excited about next year.”

The Roadrunners will take a little break in action as a team, but the last week in August they will be back together at practice, as fall ball begins.

Sussex Countian

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